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Ymagis, CineTech to Launch CinemaNext North America

Wed, 04/12/2017 - 12:41 -- Nick Dager

Ymagis Group announced today that it has agreed with Dallas-based CinTech to form a new, full-service exhibitor services company in North America. Under the terms of the agreement and subject to the fulfillment of conditions precedent, a new company, CinemaNext North America, will be created with Ymagis Group acquiring a 75 percent stake and CinTech the remaining 25 percent. CinemaNext North America will be managed by industry veteran Stan Hays. Both parties intend to start operations during the second quarter of the year.

Specialized in cinema installations and the maintenance of digital cinema equipment, CinTech was founded by Hays in the Dallas suburb of Rockwall in 2009. From 2010 to 2013, CinTech Services provided digital system services for the cinema and signage industries, and successfully executed over 3,500 digital cinema projection system conversions. The company also acts as a subcontractor to major cinema technology manufacturers for integration, maintenance and network operations center services.

“Through this new partnership, we are moving forward with our Perform2020 strategic plan to provide North American customers the same level of integrated solutions we offer their European counterparts through CinemaNext,” said Jean Mizrahi, founder, president and CEO of Ymagis Group. “Stan Hays and his company have been important actors in the successful digital roll-out in the US and enjoy an excellent reputation founded on quality and reliability. With our shared understanding of professionalism and innovation, it is the perfect choice for our North American operations. Additionally, it will help grow our US footprint alongside Eclair's New York office, which is dedicated to theatrical delivery operations.”

“We are thrilled to join Ymagis Group’s cinema exhibition services to form a new US-based entity,” said Hays. “In recent years, we were able to satisfy our cinema exhibitor clients by offering high quality services and paving the path to digitalization. As VPF models in North America come to an end and new technologies such as HDR, laser projection, digital signage, immersive sound and new service concepts are coming to the fore, it’s the right time for us to take this step. This new venture with CinemaNext will strengthen the range of products & services we can offer the market, particularly in a fast-evolving business environment.”

“With his over 20 years’ experience in project management and massive roll-out projects for giant exhibition chains, including Carmike, Regal and AMC, our new venture will greatly benefit from Stan Hays’ extensive skills and in-depth market knowledge,” said Till Cussmann, vice president of CinemaNext. “The development of our North American activities is a top priority for the Group. Our innovative software & hardware solutions with efficient, quality-driven processes will prove to be a very interesting alternative offer for cinema operators in North America. It is ultimately our goal to offer North American customers our recent market innovations, including those we recently demonstrated at CinemaCon such as EclairColor HDR technology, Sphera Premium Format Cinema, boothless projection technology and EclairPlay, a new content platform connecting exhibitors with content owners.”